More flippin bonnets
Discussion
Hi All
One more Tuscan with a flip bonnet. Did it a bit differently to other posts:
1. Hinge point is same as service bonnet so can leave service bonnet catch closed when opening the two together
2. Used sideways on hinges to take the load of the bonnet (also strengthened with rib pieces at 90o). Held to main bonnet with M8 bolts and back-plate / penny washers. Hinges made from 2mm plate brass with rib silver-soldered in place. Would have been easier to use mild steel honestly...then could have heat treated. But the brass is easy to work and very strong in the right places. Also note the extra round tube with a foot and another M8 bolt...this keeps everything strong as near to the hinge point as possible. Hinges were 2-pack painted.
3. Modified service bonnet very slightly to cut off the inside lump of the brass bushing at the hinge and replaced it with some 2mm brass plate fibre-glassed and chemical-metalled to inner face. This makes the thickness less at the hinge so that main bonnet hinge can fit along side (inside)
4. Cut away the pepperpot under-tray slightly up by the original mounting bolts...just trimmed off the small returns that used to sit under the main bonnet front edges. Now the main bonnet sits cleanly onto old mounting point lands (in the picture you can see I put a small rubber pad to stop them rubbing or banging)
5. Cut away the front mounting bolts and ground off flush. Cut the midway mounting bolts off flush with the top of the exisitng nut as these seem to act as stop for the bonnet
6. Only modification then to main bonnet was a simple cut away to let the bonnet pass the round service-bonnet stop that is fixed to the driver-side wing (passenger side one misses anyway)
7. Used some simple swing-down props on each side that have a ball-end to sit into the service bonnet catch holes. The props fold up and hold in place with magnets glued to main bonnet up near main catches (no photos of these)
8. The only tricky bit is fitting the M6x50 cap head screws (off ebay) through the new hinges, through the service bonnet hinge holes and on into the mounting thread in the wing corner. I ended up buying one of those extra long flexible bit holders from halfords so that I could get drive to the right place while not being able to actually see what I was doing. Easier to do the 2nd time!
Overall works really well. Undo main catches, un-pop service bonnet both sides, lift both together up from driver's side and sit that prop in place...move to passenger side and fit prop. One person job ! Decided not to use gas struct assist for simplicity.
There was a thread somewhere that stated that the wing front corner mounts aren't strong enough fro this...hmmm, try putting an M6 into one of those puppies and see for yourself...you can bounce the darned car around they're so tough.
See photos.
PS: This is a one-off ;-)
Passenger side hinge with service bonnet removed
Drivers side hinge, again with service bonnet removed
Passenger side hinge close up with service bonnet removed
Passenger side inside mounting plate and washer a front corner
Drivers side inside mounting plate and washer a front corner, and can see the hinge M6 screw and rubber pad where the old front bolt used to be
The only real main bonnet mod was to cut away a clearance for the service bonnet stop
Service bonnet hinge mods (note I ground the new fibre glass back a little to clear the hinges)
Good fun ! Now just have to thaw out my toes and fingers and enjoy driving it.
One more Tuscan with a flip bonnet. Did it a bit differently to other posts:
1. Hinge point is same as service bonnet so can leave service bonnet catch closed when opening the two together
2. Used sideways on hinges to take the load of the bonnet (also strengthened with rib pieces at 90o). Held to main bonnet with M8 bolts and back-plate / penny washers. Hinges made from 2mm plate brass with rib silver-soldered in place. Would have been easier to use mild steel honestly...then could have heat treated. But the brass is easy to work and very strong in the right places. Also note the extra round tube with a foot and another M8 bolt...this keeps everything strong as near to the hinge point as possible. Hinges were 2-pack painted.
3. Modified service bonnet very slightly to cut off the inside lump of the brass bushing at the hinge and replaced it with some 2mm brass plate fibre-glassed and chemical-metalled to inner face. This makes the thickness less at the hinge so that main bonnet hinge can fit along side (inside)
4. Cut away the pepperpot under-tray slightly up by the original mounting bolts...just trimmed off the small returns that used to sit under the main bonnet front edges. Now the main bonnet sits cleanly onto old mounting point lands (in the picture you can see I put a small rubber pad to stop them rubbing or banging)
5. Cut away the front mounting bolts and ground off flush. Cut the midway mounting bolts off flush with the top of the exisitng nut as these seem to act as stop for the bonnet
6. Only modification then to main bonnet was a simple cut away to let the bonnet pass the round service-bonnet stop that is fixed to the driver-side wing (passenger side one misses anyway)
7. Used some simple swing-down props on each side that have a ball-end to sit into the service bonnet catch holes. The props fold up and hold in place with magnets glued to main bonnet up near main catches (no photos of these)
8. The only tricky bit is fitting the M6x50 cap head screws (off ebay) through the new hinges, through the service bonnet hinge holes and on into the mounting thread in the wing corner. I ended up buying one of those extra long flexible bit holders from halfords so that I could get drive to the right place while not being able to actually see what I was doing. Easier to do the 2nd time!
Overall works really well. Undo main catches, un-pop service bonnet both sides, lift both together up from driver's side and sit that prop in place...move to passenger side and fit prop. One person job ! Decided not to use gas struct assist for simplicity.
There was a thread somewhere that stated that the wing front corner mounts aren't strong enough fro this...hmmm, try putting an M6 into one of those puppies and see for yourself...you can bounce the darned car around they're so tough.
See photos.
PS: This is a one-off ;-)
Passenger side hinge with service bonnet removed
Drivers side hinge, again with service bonnet removed
Passenger side hinge close up with service bonnet removed
Passenger side inside mounting plate and washer a front corner
Drivers side inside mounting plate and washer a front corner, and can see the hinge M6 screw and rubber pad where the old front bolt used to be
The only real main bonnet mod was to cut away a clearance for the service bonnet stop
Service bonnet hinge mods (note I ground the new fibre glass back a little to clear the hinges)
Good fun ! Now just have to thaw out my toes and fingers and enjoy driving it.
Nice job Pete, liked your idea of using the service panel catch holes for your "props".
Few other questions....Did your water & oil & brake fluid caps foul on the bonnet??? Did you have to cut away??
Does the main bonnet catch at all on the wings as you are lowering it?? I just thought that a small ammount of play at the hinge would be a large movement at the windowsceen end , so one concern I have is scratching the wwings if it doesn't come down spot on...That's why I'm considering gas struts ,more to help with the alignment....Your thoughts would be helpful....All systems go for mine next week...but S&D are doing it for me...not as skilled as you.
Few other questions....Did your water & oil & brake fluid caps foul on the bonnet??? Did you have to cut away??
Does the main bonnet catch at all on the wings as you are lowering it?? I just thought that a small ammount of play at the hinge would be a large movement at the windowsceen end , so one concern I have is scratching the wwings if it doesn't come down spot on...That's why I'm considering gas struts ,more to help with the alignment....Your thoughts would be helpful....All systems go for mine next week...but S&D are doing it for me...not as skilled as you.
if i can get the cad program i will give it to a company we are employing at work to make billet cases for our race bikes, if that particular program works on there computer they will make them for us. I can then pass there number on for people to have them made.
PetrolHeadPete said:
sorry not really
they are a bit of a one off from my pov
but reckon any half decent job shop could
copy then from the pictures
I could email the cad profile of the main hinge arm if you want
they are a bit of a one off from my pov
but reckon any half decent job shop could
copy then from the pictures
I could email the cad profile of the main hinge arm if you want
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